Editing Zipcar (section)

==History==
[[File:London 01 2013 Zip van 5534.JPG|thumb|Zipvan vehicle in London.]]
Zipcar was co-founded by Antje Danielson and [[Robin Chase]] based on German and Swiss company precedents in January 2000. In June 2000, the first Zipcars hit the road around [[Boston, Massachusetts]]. In January 2001, Danielson was fired after Chase petitioned Zipcar's board for the ability to make hiring and firing decisions without consulting them.<ref name="Duhaime-Ross">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/4/1/5553910/driven-how-zipcars-founders-built-and-lost-a-car-sharing-empire|title=Driven: how Zipcar's founders built and lost a car-sharing empire|last=Duhaime-Ross|first=Arielle|date=April 1, 2014}}</ref>

In September 2001, the [[Washington, D.C.]] office opened, with the branch in [[New York City]] following in February 2002. In February 2003, after difficulties in securing additional rounds of funding, the Zipcar board replaced [[Robin Chase]] as CEO with [[Scott Griffith]].<ref name="Duhaime-Ross"/> In July 2005, Zipcar secured $10 million in funding led by [[Benchmark Capital]]. In August 2005, [[San Francisco]] office opened. In May 2006, the [[Toronto]] office opened. In May 2006, [[General Electric]]'s Commercial Finance Fleet Services ({{nyse2|GE}}) gave Zipcar $20 million in lease line financing. In September 2006, the Toronto market was named the fastest growing new market in company history.

In November 2006, the [[London]] office opened. In April 2007, the [[Vancouver]] office opened. In October 2007, Zipcar and [[Flexcar]] executives announced a merger of the two companies, with the Zipcar brand and headquarters replacing that of Flexcar.<ref name="Seattle Times 31OCT07">{{cite news| url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003984391_flexcar31.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071031223700/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003984391_flexcar31.html |archive-date=31 October 2007 |last=Gates |first=Dominic | title=Seattle's Flexcar merges with rival Zipcar| newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]| date=31 October 2007| access-date=9 September 2020}}</ref>

On 23 January 2008, the merged Zipcar/Flexcar canceled service for the [[Southern California]] cities of [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Diego]] without providing advance notice to customers in those areas, although Southern California college operations were left intact.<ref name="San Diego Union Tribue 24JAN08">{{cite news |first=Jeanette |last=Steele |title=Flexcar is curbing a majority of its fleet|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080124-9999-1m24flex.html|work=[[U-T San Diego]] |date=2008-01-24|access-date=2008-03-10}}</ref> On July 11, 2008, Zipcar announced it doubled membership in past year, including the Flexcar members it acquired, and now had 225,000 members.<ref name="CarSharingWorld 16JUL08">{{cite news |title=Zipcar doubled membership in past year to 225,000 |url=http://carsharingworld.com/2008/07/zipcar-doubled-membership-in-past-year-to-225000/ |work=CarSharing World |date=2008-07-15 |access-date=2008-07-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226014652/http://carsharingworld.com/2008/07/zipcar-doubled-membership-in-past-year-to-225000/ |archive-date=December 26, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On August 28, 2008, [[Rice University]] announced its introduction into the program in their goal of achieving the lowest possible carbon footprint while providing additional transportation options for employees that carpool.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=11382 |title=Zipcars offer campus a new transportation option |publisher=Media.rice.edu |access-date=2010-11-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607145910/http://www.media.rice.edu/media/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=11382 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In June 2009, the company announced an iPhone application at the Apple World Wide Developer Conference; the application is capable of honking the horn and unlocking some Zipcars.<ref>{{cite web|last=Paczkowski |first=John|url=http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20090608/wwdc-2009-keynote-live-zipcar-pasco-and-mr-science/ |title=WWDC 2009 Keynote LIVE: Zipcar, Pasco and Mr. ''Science''! |publisher=Digitaldaily.allthingsd.com |date=2009-06-08 |access-date=2010-11-27}}</ref>

Following impressive third-quarter results, previous CEO Scott Griffith announced that 2012 would mark Zipcar's "first full year of profitability on a US GAAP basis".<ref name="Members">{{cite web |url=http://zipcar.mediaroom.com/2013-05-15-Zipcar-Launches-in-the-City-of-Lakes-Minneapolis-Becomes-Zipcars-21st-Major-Metro-Market |title=Zipcar Launches in the City of Lakes; Minneapolis Becomes Zipcar's 21st Major Metro Market - May 15, 2013 |publisher=Zipcar.mediaroom.com |date=2013-05-15 |access-date=2013-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130729185420/http://zipcar.mediaroom.com/2013-05-15-Zipcar-Launches-in-the-City-of-Lakes-Minneapolis-Becomes-Zipcars-21st-Major-Metro-Market |archive-date=July 29, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Scott Griffith stepped down on March 15, 2013, following Avis Budget Group's acquisition of Zipcar. Mark Norman remained as president until February 2014, when Avis Budget Group announced that Kaye Ceille was appointed president of Zipcar, and "Mark Norman would step down in order to pursue another career opportunity."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zipcar.com/press/releases/avis-budget-group-appoints-ceille-president|title=Avis Budget Group Appoints Kaye Ceille as President, Zipcar {{!}} Zipcar Press Center|website=www.zipcar.com|access-date=2016-08-17}}</ref> In July 2016, Kay Ceille stepped down as president of Zipcar to become the managing director of Avis Budget Group International, Australia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ratantravels.com/project/tempo-traveler/|title=Family Trip/ Holidays/ Transfers / Airport Pick up Tempo Traveler |last= Tempo Traveler|date=5 January 2019|work=Ratan Travels|access-date=5 January 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zipcar.com/press/releases/president|title=zipcar appoints Tracey Zhen as president|last=Wester|date=January 5, 2017|website=Zipcar|access-date=January 5, 2017}}</ref> On January 5, 2017, Zipcar announced that after a 6-month search they appointed Tracey Zhen as its new president. Zhen came over from TripAdvisor where she had been a vice president and general manager.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/01/05/zipcar-recruits-new-president-from-tripadvisor/6nCkoWYxifsCL8AEdxPgrM/story.html|title=Zipcar recruits new president from TripAdvisor|last=Vaccaro|date=5 January 2017|work=Boston Globe|access-date=5 January 2017|via=Globestaff}}</ref> On September 27, 2020, Zipcar announced Angelo Adams as its new head of Zipcar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Angelo Adams to Steer Zipcar into the Future of Urban Transportation {{!}} Zipcar |url=https://www.zipcar.com/press/news/angelo-adams-to-steer-zipcar-into-the-future-of-urban-transportation |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=www.zipcar.com}}</ref>

Zipcar saw a significant swing in demand during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], with a falloff in demand in March 2020 and a surge in May. Having taken cars off the road, the company had trouble keeping up with demand, causing a backlog at the customer service center.<ref name="confronts">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/11/business/zipcar-confronts-surge-interest-after-lockdowns-eased/|title=Zipcar confronts surge in interest after lockdowns eased - The Boston Globe|website=BostonGlobe.com}}</ref> Some customers arrived at the time of their reservation to find no car in the parking spot. Some customers reported being stranded without transportation and unable to reach customer service to complain or cancel their membership.<ref name="outrages">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/14/tech/zipcar-customer-service/index.html|title=Zipcar's customer service outrages its users, draws backlash|first=Matt|last= McFarland|work=[[CNN]]|date=July 14, 2020 }}</ref> President Tracey Zhen apologized in June, saying the company was adding cars and customer service employees.<ref name="confronts" /> By that month, she reported membership applications in New York City 70% above June 2019. An anonymous employee told CNN that the problems were exacerbated by laying off more than 20% of its employees, and changing call centers.<ref name="outrages" />